Indexed mailing list



Aug.. 4, 1925.

INDEXED MAILING LIST Filed March 1e, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l iNAME mm ADDREE 5. f

1 FITION'Y.

yama/a/ Cao., '17 72 //l3 y Aug. 4, 1925.. 1,548,487

H.O.ROSS

INDEXED MAILING LIST Filed March 16, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l l //V I/f/V/'Off Patented Aug. 4, l9`25.

UNITED STATES HERBERT 0. ROSS, 0F ST. LOUIS,` MISSOURI.

INDEXED MAILING LIST.

Application led March 16, 1920. Serial No. 366,207.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERBERT O. Ross, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Indexed Mailing List, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates generally to indexes and, more particularly, tol a certain new and useful indexed mailing-list.

The chief objects of my present invention are to provide a mailing or other list comprising a main or master list and one or more sub-lists giving specific data or information with respect tothe names, businesses, or the like listed in the main or master-list; to provide in a list of the kind stated a record-sheet having lsuitably captioned spaces and columns for embodying the main or master-list and with suitably captioned .additional columns for embodying the sub-lists, and to also preferably provide such sheet with readily visibly distinguishable means for facilitating the reading of the several lists without error or confusion; to provide in a list or the like of the kind stated a plurality of correspondingly columned individual record-sections or cards and a holder with which the several sections or cards are adapted for engagement in preferably overlapping arrangement to collectively form a readily visible substantially continuous list or lists, the individual sections or cards being adapted for convenient placement in, or removal from, the

holder. whereby revision of and correction in the list or lists may be made with facility and economy; and to provide in a list or the like of the kind stated and in connection with said individual record-sections or cards and holder, an additional separate section or card bearingv suitable captions for the spaces and columns of the said individual record-sections or cards.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and afterwards pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1I is-an elevational view of an indexed mailing-list embodying my invention;

Figure 2 shows in perspective a'fragment of the slotted holder for the individual record-sections or cards;

Figure 3 shows in perspective a fragment of the separate caption-bearing section or card;

Figure 4 shows in perspective a fragment of one of the individual record-sections or cards; l y

Figure 5 shows in enlarged perspective a fragment of the card-holder, a fragment of the caption-bearing section, and a fragment of the upper individual record-section, all

throughout the several views, 1 indicates the card-holder, which is preferably of rectangular shape and of suitable sheet material, such as, for instance, relatively heavy paper-board or light sheet metal. This holder 1 is provided or formed adjacent its opposed or opposite vertical margins with preferably the angularly obtuse form seen especially in Figure 2, each slot 2 comprising a vertically disposed portion 3 and an upwardly and inwardly inclined portion 4, and as seen in Figure 1, the slots2 are equidistantly spaced vertically andl aligned horizontally in pairs.

5-,-5 indicate the separate individual record-sections or cards, each of which is constructed of suitable material and each of which is of a length to conveniently fit upon the holder 1 intermediate or between the portions 3 of its opposite marginal rows of slots 2, as seen in Figure 1. Each card or section 5 is formed at its ends with a pair of longitudinally extending tenons 6 each preferably reduced at its neck, as at v7,whereby the card or section 5 is adapted for facile engagement with the slots 2 of the holder 1.

8 indicates the caption-section or card, which is also of suitable material and of a length similarly, as shown, to fit between rows or series of slots or openings 2 having the ortions 3 of the opposite marginal rows of s ots 2 of theholder, the card or sectionv lower portion inserted beneath, and thus overlapped by, .the first card, the lower pair of tenons of the second card or section inserted into and received by the pair of slots 2 occupiedby the upper pair of tenons of the first card, and the upper pair of tenfons of the second card or section inserted into and received by the next supper pair of older-slots 2. Similarly the several individualrecord-sections or cards 5l may be fitted in'Y overlapping and overlapped Varrangement upon the holder 1 and as so disposed upon the holder- 1 provide substantially a visibly continuous, though sectional, sheet, the caption-section 8 being suitably fitted at itstenons 9 into engagement with the uppermost the holder `1, as shown.: ith the several sections 5 and- 8 soy mounted or arranged upon and engaging the holder 1, it will be seen that the central edge portions of each overlapped section fit over the oblique portions 4 of the slots 2 occupied by the upper pair of tenons of the next adjacent overlapping section, Such slots 2 being thereby restricted in dimensions to prevent withdrawal of the upper tenons of the overlapping, though upon the holder 1 lower, section and such lower, overlapping section being'thus releasably locked a ainst accidental removal or displacement. y manual manipulation, however, of the upper, overlapped section to draw' its edge-portions from over the portions 4 of said slots 2, the

lower, overlapping sections may be conveniently removed for any desired purposes and again reinserted in position, or substitution o a new section therefor readily made, the upper, overlapped section on being released again locking the lower section from removal as described.-

The several individual record-sections or cards 5, as well as also .the caption-section 8, arecorrespondingly provided along the right-hand portions thereof with columns 11 formed by suitably spaced lines 12, these several columns, when the cards or 4sections 5 and 8 are fitted and arranged upon the holder 1 as described, being vertically substantially continuous, as seen especially in Figure 1. 'The major-portions 13 of the he next upwardly adjacent section or card 5 is then placed in posltion, its" air of slots 2 of several sections or cards 5 to the left of the several columns 11 provide a convenient space or column for receiving the names of individuals, corporations, businesses, or the conveniently preferably permanentl aiiixed therein suit- A able appropriate hea ings or captlons, as

shown, while on the corresponding body or space 13 of the caption-section 8 appears, as seen in Figurel, a suitable or appropriate heading or caption for the matter appearing in the column or space 13 of the several sections or cards-5L Obviousl such headin or captions may vary; I have. arbitrari y selected for purposes of this specification captions or headings a plicable articularly for an index for a mailing-list, tile spaces 13 of the several individual record-sections or cards 5 containing the listed names Vand addresses, by hand-writing vor otherwise, of persons or concerns to whom matter, such, for instance, as advertising matter or literature, may be directed, and such column being appropriately identified on the caption section 8 by the heading Name and address, and the spaces in the columns 11 aligned with any vparticular name contain- 'ing data or information, such as commercial rating, lines of goods or merchandise carried, seasons, customers, and so on, suitably or appropriately captioned by the section 8, relating to the listed persons or concerns. In the example shown, for instance, I have illustrated a mailing-list, in which the uppermost or top `indlvidu'al record-section 5 bears in its space 13 the name and address of John Brown Mfg. Co., St. Louis, Mo., 123 Olive ISt. In the column 11 captioned Rating thousand, there is written the number 10. Inthe column 11 captioned Class A, there appears an x. And in the column 1l captioned Stationy, there also appears an x. Thus this card at once gives or conveys to the user of the list the information that the John Brown Mfg. Co. is financially rated at $10,000.00, commercially is of Class A credit, and handles and is interested in stationery. Certain of the other individual record or listing sections 5 may, by an x or an s or other symbol or the like, show that the particular concern listed on any particular section or card 5 handles various merchandise and various lines of goods, that sales in one or more lines have been made to him, orother pertinent ltheir relation to each other.

information. Thus I provide in a mailinglist the main or master-list, comprising the names and addresses of the businesses or concerns listed in the column 13, and one or more supplemental sub-lists rovided by the columns 11, which, as described, supply pertinent and valuable data or specific information relating to the persons or con-l cerns comprised in the main or master-list. The master-list so consolidates into one main list all of the possible listings, and the accompanyingcolumns or sub-lists 11 ive all of the advantages of al number o small special classification lists. The columns 11 afford an inexpensive way of carrying or 'compiling detail information about each name comprised in the master-list and thus offer substantially an unlimited variety of special notations or classifications, such as a memorandum or list for seasonable follow-up, grading of prospects, lines of merchandise carried by customer, lines of merchandise sold to customer, lines of merchandise yet tobe sold to customer where customer has only purchased from one or two departments of a concern, and, in effect, provide an automatic chart of customers, prospects, or memoranda, showing The columns 11 further provide means for an unlimited number of sub-lists of the main list, thus facilitating the adding or locating of any special class within the main list, and also for eliminating duplicate namles lbctween ra number of small classications within the main list which may overlap; for instance, if a given or particular name be classified or listed in each of a number of classes, the column rules permit the name to be carried in each list or classification, yet at the .same time eliminate consideration of duplicate names which would otherwise appear in the lists if the same were separated. Each ofthe individual record-sectlons or cards 5 being independently removable from the holder 1 as before described, an unlimited revision of` the main or master list may ibe readily made tofor instance, clear items or names off the main list, add new names or items, correct or revise present names or items; and it will be clear thatindividual handling of theJ sections or cards 5 is entirely obviated and time and labor thus Veconomized inthe use of. the list, since the same are readily visible at all times sub` stantially as a continuous sheet. If desired,v

the several individual record-sections may be of distinguishable characteristics to denote or indicate, for instance, time ofjlisting-thus one section 5 maybe of a certain color, as shown to denote a 1919 entry, another section 5 may be Aof a different color, also as shown, to denote a 1918 entry,fand so on throughout the several individualsections, a key to the information conveyed by the various colors or characteristics of the sections 5 being, of course, in the possession of the user of the index or lists. And further to facilitate the reading of the several columns 11 without error or confusion, the several column-forming lines 12 may be distinguished in color or otherwise one from v name appears listed upon the particular section, a reading of which information may be readily had by either a removal of the articular card or a springing of its over apping card or even of the holder sufficiently to permit the covered or overlapped portion of the particular section to be seen.

The several record-sections 5 and their holder 1, it may be added, are convenient also as a memorandum system. The sections 5 may be placed in order of importance on the holder, and as the different items are taken off the base card or holder, new items take their place; or if an item becomes of greater or less importance, such section may be shifted up or down on .the holder to a position that clearly indicates or shows the degree of its importance.

My new index may be readily applied to many uses other than those herein specifically mentioned, and it is to be understood that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my new index may be made and tally-aligned slots, a separate record-section,

and flaring outwardly-projecting tenons at. the opposite ends of sald section adapted to removably fit in said slots for separably supporting the section upon the holder.

2. A record list including, in combination, a holder provided with a pair of horizontally-aligned oppositely-disposed obtuseangle slots, a separate record-section, and flaring outwardly-projecting tenons at the opposite ends of said section adapted to removably fit in said slots for separably supporting the section upon the holder.

3. A record-list including, in combination, a holder provided with a airof horizontally-aligned slots, a pair o individual recupon the holder.

4. A record list including, in combination, a holder provided with spaced rows of horizontally aligned slots, a plurality of separate 'individual record sections, and outwardly-projecting tenons upon each of said sections adapted to removably fit in overlying relation in opposed pairs of said slots for separably supporting said sections in an edgewise overlapping series upon the holder.

5. A record-list including, in combination, a holder provided with pairs of horizontally aligned slots having one end inclined inwardly at an obtuse angle, a pair of individual record-sections, and flaring outwardly projecting tenons on each of Said sections adapted to removably lit in said slots, one section edgewise underlying the other section for locking the overlapping section against removal.

6. A record-list including, in combination, a holder provided with pairs of horizontally aligned slots-having one end inclined inwardly at an obtuse angle, a pair of individual record-sections, and flaring outwardly projecting tenons on each of said sections adapted to removably fit in said slots, the one section restricting the slots occupied by the tenons of the other section for locking the same against removal.

7. A record-list including, in combination, a holder provided with pairs of horizontally aligned slots having one. end inclined inwardly at an obtuse angle, a record-section provided with longitudinal Haring tenons adapted to vremovably fit in certain of said slots for detachably supporting said section upon the holder, and a second record- Isection also providedwith longitudinallaring tenons adapted to removably t in slots occupied by tenons of the first section, the one section restricting said latterslots for locking the tenons of the other, section against removal. i

8. A record-list including, in combination, a holder provided with pairs of horizontally aligned "obtuse-angle slots, a recordsection provided with longitudinaly flaring tenons adapted to removably fit in certain of said slots for detachably supporting said section upon the holder, and a second record-section also provided with longitudinal flaring tenons adapted to removably fit in the slots occupied by tenons of the lirst section, the one section overlying portions of and restricting said latter slots for locking the tenons of the other section against removal.

9. In a record-list or the like, the combination with a holder provided with spaced rows of horizontally aligned obtuse angle slots, of a record-section provided with pairs of longitudinal tenons of reduced width at their neck, said tenons being adapted t0 lit in certain ofv said slots to sup ort the section upon the holder, and a secon recordsection also provided with longitudinal tenons adapted tto lit -in some of 'the slots occupied by tenons of the first section to support the second section upon the holder, the second section being adapted to overlie portions of and restrict the slots occupied by tenons of both the first and second sections and thereby lock the first section aga-inst removal.

10. In a ,record-list or the like, the combination with a holder provided with s aced rows of horizontally aligned slots, eac slot comprising a vertically disposed portion and a communicating obliquely disposed portion, of a record-section provided with a pair of longitudinal tenons of reduced width at their neck, said tenons being adapted to Ht in certain of said slots to support the section v upon the holder, and the body of each tenon having a width greater thany the width of the vertically disposed portion of its said slot, and a second record section also provided with tenons adapted to fit in certain of said slots to support the second section upon the holder, the second section being adapted to overlie the obliquely dispose portions of the slots occupied by the tenons of the first section and thereby lock the first section againstremoval.

11. A mailing-list including a holder-section, in combination with a plurality of individual separate record-sections, each record-section having a plurality of surface columns formed by spaced transverse lines for the compilation of-a main list and of one or more sub-lists of the main list, the holder and each respective record-section being adaptedfor separable interengagement and said record-sections when in interengagement with the holder-section being disposed in an edgewise overlapping series over and upon the holder-section, the columns of the record-sections then aligning and the several record-sections then forming substantially a single continuous sheet.

12. A mailing-list including a holder-section, in combination with a pluralit of individual separate record-sections, eac recordsection having' a plurality of surface columns .in an' edgewise overlapping series over and upon the holder-section, the columns of the record-sections then aligning and the sev` eral record-sections then forming substantially a single continuous sheet, and designating captions upon the holder-section aligning with and for the entries of the respective columns of the attached recordsections.

13. A mailing-list including a holdersection, in combination with a separate caption-section, a plurality of individual separate record-sections, each record section having a plurality of surface columns formed by spaced transverse lines for the compilation of a main list and of one or more sub-lists of the main list, the holdersection and the caption-section and the holder-section and each respective recordholder-section, the columns of the recordsections then aligning, the several recordsections then forming substantially a single continuous sheet, and the caption-section bearing designating-captions for and then aligning with the respective columns of the record-sections.

In testimony whereof, ll' have signed my name to this specification.

' HERBERT 0. ROSS. 

